Bob Frantz: Wishing DeSean Jackson good luck  from afar

DeSean Jackson may turn out to be a model citizen and valuable asset to his team for the rest of his career. Or he may turn out to be a chemistry-killing, divisive presence with too many ties to questionable people who will eventually lead him into trouble with the law.
The Washington Redskins are optimistically convinced of the former.
The Philadelphia Eagles were deathly afraid of the latter.
I’m glad the answer will be found in a city other than Cleveland.
The former Philadelphia wide receiver, cut by the Eagles on March 28, has been the centerpiece of most NFL discussions as the quiet period between the start of free agency and the upcoming NFL draft forces media types to look for new storylines.
Big props to Chip Kelly and the Eagles for making it easy.
The story was of special interest to the handful of cities who were rumored to be potential landing spots for Jackson, including Cleveland, where the Browns were reportedly in hot pursuit of the productive deep threat as recently as April 1 — just before he came to terms with the Redskins.
And while the tide of public opinion appears to be turning in Jackson’s favor, with many NFL players and some media analysts coming to his defense after published reports loosely connected him with gangs, count me as one swimming against it.
The Eagles’ decision to cut Jackson after several days of trying to move him via trade came just minutes, according to reports, after a New Jersey paper ran a story connecting Jackson to a Los Angeles street gang. The same article also alleged that Jackson’s relationship with the Philly brass was already strained:
“Sources close to Jackson and within the Eagles’ organization say it originally was Jackson’s off-field behavior that concerned the front office. A bad attitude, an inconsistent work ethic, missed meetings and a lack of chemistry with head coach Chip Kelly were the original reasons for his fall from grace,” according to NJ.com.
Now I don’t know what any of that means, but it doesn’t sound good. Whether it’s as serious as a public display of solidarity with L.A. gang members, or as mild as a lazy player who doesn’t conform to team rules, this was not the type of distracting, divisive presence the Browns needed in Berea.
Several players have since spoken out against the Eagles’ decision to release their most talented receiver without any proof of wrongdoing, or even proof of the alleged ties to gangs, but curiously, very few of them have come from Philadelphia. Some may argue that no current Eagle would speak out against a very difficult decision made by his own front office, but even a modest show of support would be expected by at least a few of his now-former teammates.
Outspoken Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman offered more than modest support. “@DeseanJackson10 and me have been boys since we were kids,” Sherman tweeted. “No one should be judged by the actions of others! #fam”
Sherman also wrote for SI.com, “I look at those words — gang ties — and I think about. ... all of us who come from inner-city neighborhoods. ... and I wonder how many of us could honestly say we’re not friends with guys doing the wrong things. I can’t.”
Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall trusts his new teammate, telling USA Today, “He’s the right kind of guy we need in our locker room. Fierce competitor and player, but great guy and humble guy that wants nothing more then (sic) to show people the real him.”
For his part, Jackson sought to clear his name with a statement on March 26: “I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field. I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible.”
Maybe.
But to be perfectly honest, the Eagles’ decision to cut ties with one of the post potent weapons in Kelly’s high-speed arsenal, without any compensation, has me wondering what else there is that we don’t know.
For his sake, I hope Jackson goes on to have a terrific career in Washington, free of controversy and off-the-field drama, proving the Eagles wrong. For the Browns’ sake, I’m glad we don’t have to play that “hoping” game with him wearing an orange helmet.

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Reach the author at frantz.media@yahoo.com. Follow Bob on Twitter: @BobFrantz80.